Feb 2008 trip planning help!

[lori1043]

Hello, we are FINALLY starting to plan a long awaited trip to WDW. We are not going until Mardi gras(Feb) of 2008. We will book soon. This will be our first trip for more than a week and we want "chill out" days in between all the parks and fun.

Questions...
#1. Should we get a package or book everything seperate like we have always done? We have not been for more than a week and have gotten our passes through DH job at a 20-25% discount, that we can still get, but the max is 5 day park hopper. I can also buy shorter day passes through them too. Is a package worth it for more than 7 days. We are planning to go for 10 days and want park options for at least 5, not more than 7. We DO like to rest in between ! What do you DIS'ers do that have been for this length of time?

#2. Can we go to a water park-is it too cold? I know they are heated and that they get refurbished in January-what about Feb.?

#3. We are used to driving and bringing our plug in ice chest(instead of renting a fridge for $10 a night). We may be flying if DH has enough points to fly us all for free(or at least 3 out of 4 of us-buy one ticket-not bad!). Any ingenious thoughts on that??? I really want to bring that ice chest-do airlines have an issue with it or should we chance it??? We love just eating b/fast at our hotel (ASMo),and having milk and juice options and sandwich options too. Is this impossible if we fly?

#4. If the above is impossible, is the Disney Dining plan worth it for 2 s/2, maybe 3 kids??? Also asking this for my SIL, who has 1 child who will be 3 when we go. Has it been offered free at all at that time of the year??


We will be staying at the ASMovies and will book now, but I will be hunting for codes and those cheaper rates at that time of year next fall (the $59 a night ones!). This is a special trip as it is our family and friends all together and a celebration of life-our family will be "quietly(ha!, but for now...) celebrating" my DD9's 5 years off chemo for leukemia. Want it to be special , but still biting my fingers to actually GET there(5 years!!). God forbid, even if something should happen-we are still going!!! She is doing well and I thank God for that every day!

Thank you for any input!

 

[Passions71203]

BUMPING

 

[Joan S.]

Hi I cannot answer all of your ??'s but you may want to look at the prices for PARK HOPPER tickets thru WDW. The way it works now is that a 4 (or 5) day ticket cost the MOST and then it is just a few $'s more to add on a day.So you may want to get EXTRA days for those few $s and then have more options for being in the parks. We are AP holders and even if we stay out of the park ALL day it is nice to go in at night for Fireworks,the parade and dinner.
We have gone the past 2 years in February and are planning on going again in 2008.I have a DS -13 so our only option is Presidents Week. We usually fly down the Thursday or Wednesday the week before and we AVOID the MK on Pres. Day! The weather last year was pretty chilly(at night) when we first arrived but warmed up nicely the next week. You just need to pack a little bit of EVERYTHING! I think a water park is doable if you have a warm day,but you may need to keep your calender flexible and decide that morning that Water Park day is today!
Also on the ice chest,I would think you could send it thru as baggage?? Any more ?'s feel free, I love going in February we are in the NE and it is what gets me thru the WINTER! Best of LUCK! Joan

 

[Luv2Roam]

I agree with the previous poster that you may find you are paying just a few dollars more for tickets over 5 days.
You can book a room only now if you wish. But might as well wait until the '08 packages are released and see what works best for you.
Beforehand you can decide what exactly you want (type of tickets, DDP, etc).
Are you a AAA member? You may want to contact them too.
However, just remember if booking with a TA (such as AAA) they own the reservation and not you. That bothers or impact some.

 

[lesliewitt]

I don't have much advise on the package vs. separate option, because we haven't done it that much to know, and like this year, we will do separate because we are renting DVC points, and so we will have to do it separately.

My one piece of advice, though, is related to FF miles. I booked 5 FF tickets to Orlando (from MSP) about a month ago and had a heck of a time trying to get there. In fact, on the way home I am flying with the kids through Indianapolis and my husband is flying through Grand Rapids, MI. I would think flying in or out of NO at Mardi Gras time will be very difficult, so I would book sooner rather than later. JMHO.

 

[bnk1120]

First of all, God Bless you and your family!! I hope you have a really wonderful trip!!!! You certainly all deserve it!

I would not book the package and instead get the tickets separately - especially since you can get them at a discounted rate.

I've heard of people buying styrofoam coolers when they get to Disney and then packing them w/ice that is *free* at the hotel. We rented a fridge at ASMu in May and it was worth it for us. Even though it is $10/day we were able to eat breakfast and snacks in the room and have cold milk and juice boxes (from home) for my daughter.